even to enemies; rendering them both illustrious and splendid as gold from the furnace. In another respect he has been tried, tried as a Saviour, by multitudes of perishing sinners, whose happy experience attests the excellence of the foundation upon which they have built their hope. All believers through every past age have experienced his ability and willingness to save. Thousands and thousands

of immortal souls, once the captives of Satan, led in chains by him towards the bottomless gulf, by laying hold on this rock have escaped perdition. The penitent thief, while expiring on the cross, who had no opportunity to build, nor for any thing more than just to cast his departing soul upon this foundation, by this single effort found himself safe for eternity.

But again, he is called a precious corner-stone, importing his place in the temple of God, and the unity, strength, and beauty which he communicates to the whole structure. He is the centre of union in this spiritual building, incorporating Jews and Gentiles, believers of all nations and throughout all ages, in one vast and happy society. The materials of this house of God consist of all nations, kindreds, and tongues; Jews and Greeks, Barbarians and Scythians, bond and free, honourable and dishonourable, rich and poor. All these Christ unites and binds to himself and to one another, in the bonds of fraternal affection; inspiring them with the same spirit, love, faith, and hope. By these ties he links

them to each other during the period of their dispersion and pilgrimage here on earth, and will finally bring them to meet together and dwell forever in one blessed communion in heaven. "He is our

peace," says the Apostle, "who hath made both one (that is, Jews and Gentiles), and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us ;" that so all the different parts of his church might form but one grand structure, "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord."

A sure foundation, says the Prophet. In the Hebrew, a foundation, a foundation.

"There

is," says the animated Hervey, "a fine spirit of vehemence in the sentence thus understood; it speaks the language of agreeable surprise and exultation, and expresses an important discovery. That which mankind infinitely want; that which multitudes seek and find not;-it is here! it is here! This, this is the foundation for their pardon, their peace, their eternal felicity!"

My hearers, will ye not be persuaded to build upon this foundation? Sinners, will ye not cast yourselves upon this rock? Already ye are sinking under guilt and condemnation. Here is the

"Other

only rock upon which ye can be safe. foundation," says the Apostle, "can no man lay, than that already laid, which is Jesus Christ." Ye

have heard of the ample sufficiency and excellence of this; how to build upon it, you are directed in the text; "he that believeth," clearly teaching that you must build by faith, by believing what the Scripture reveals concerning Christ as a foundation, and by resting upon him the eternal interests of your souls. Faith is the exercise of the heart, as well as of the understanding. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." Were you plunged in the ocean, and there struggling for life amidst the buffeting waves, the rock within your reach could be no support till you cast yourselves upon it. Sinking, perishing sinners hear of Christ as a foundation. He is nigh to them in his word and in his ordinances, while they, blind to their perilous condition, make no efforts to get upon this rock. Like drowning men bereft of reason, they lay hold on every twig, on every straw, still neglecting the rock. Faith implies trust in Christ and reliance upon him for safety; but ye cannot thus trust in him while ye remain insensible of your danger. Ye must feel yourselves sinking under the burden of your sins, and under this feeling apply to Christ, crying with sinking Peter, "Help, Lord, we perish." Ye must lay hold on him as your only support, letting go all other confidences, and clinging to him as your only hope. Your faith in him must result at once from the last necessity and the freest choice; from a deep conviction of your infinite need of him, and from a well-pleasedness with his character and

offices. It must also have a transforming influence upon your hearts and lives, rendering you new creatures. If your faith be evangelical, ye will yourselves become lively stones, and partake of the excellencies and splendours of that precious stone upon which ye are built. The foundation communicates, not only support and strength, but beauty and excellence to the whole structure and to all its parts. A degree of likeness to Christ, and something of his temper, are found in the character of all and each of his members.

The last words in the text set forth the advantages resulting to those who are thus built upon this sure foundation: "he that believeth," says the Prophet, "shall not make haste,"-" shall not be ashamed or confounded," says the Apostle. Both ideas are included in its import. In the former sense, it marks the confused hurry, the disorder and perturbation into which men are thrown by any sudden consternation. In the latter sense, it expresses the regret, chagrin, and confusion, which overwhelm the mind on the failure of its confidence, and the disappointment of its hopes. From all these evils, true believers in Christ are happily freed. Let come what may, amidst all vicissitudes, they are secure, and may in patience possess their souls. Knowing in whom they have believed, upon whom they have placed their dependence, what their foundation is; they shall feel themselves safe upon this rock, whatever storms may blow, whatever convul

sions may shake the world.

In the last extremi

ty, in the shipwreck of nature, when the earthly house of their tabernacle shall be dissolved, they will know that they have a building of God on Christ as the foundation. Sustained by this hope, they will be calm and serene, not only when bidding adieu to the world, but even when beholding the prognostics of a dissolving world. When the heavens and the earth shall pass away, they will be able to look for a new heaven and a new earth, in which dwelleth righteousness.

Come then, ye weary and heavy laden, cast yourselves upon this foundation, and ye shall find rest to your souls,—a support for your hope when all earthly hopes shall fail and give way. Ye shall be confident at death, confident at the resurrection of the just, and confident at the general judgment. When others shall fly in wild haste to the dens and to the caves of the earth, and shall shriek to the rocks and to the mountains for shelter,

ye shall not make haste, nor be ashamed," but look for the second coming of the Son of man as a blessed hope, a glorious appearance, the day of your finished redemption.